News

Rockford, Ill. – In their sixth matchup of the season against the Chicago Wolves, the Rockford IceHogs orchestrated a 3-2 comeback win to improve to 2-3-0-1 against their Midwest Division rivals.

Chicago jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, cashing in on their first power play just 17 seconds into the advantage. Zack Kassian centered a pass behind his back for a wide open Andrew Ebbett, who flipped it past Carter Hutton 3:22 into the game.

Less than two and a half minutes later, the IceHogs responded to tie the game up at 1-1. Martin St. Pierre fired a shot that Wolves’ goaltender Matt Climie knocked down, but Rob Flick was there to chip it in at 5:51 in the first period.

Andrew Shaw gave Rockford its first lead of the game at the 4:39 mark of the second frame, tipping in Nick Leddy’s shot on the power play for his eighth goal on the campaign.

Then, after Brandon Bollig was given two minor penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct and roughing, Brett Sterling found the back of the net 59 seconds into the four minute advantage. Sterling picked up a feed from Kassian and picked a spot just under Hutton’s blocker to tie the game back up at 2-2 at 15:54 of the middle frame.

Once Rockford killed off the second minor penalty, it didn’t take long for the Hogs to regain the lead. Dylan Olsen fired a puck in on the Chicago net that Climie kicked out with no one around. St. Pierre raced into the Wolves zone, picked up the loose puck and buried his team-best 13th goal of the season with two minutes left in the second period.

Hutton closed the door the rest of the way to earn his 12th victory of the season. Climie was tagged with the loss, stopping 36 of the 39 shots he faced.

Rockford’s power play finished 1-3 on the night while Chicago converted on two of their four opportunities.

Next Home Game: Saturday, Dec. 29 vs. Milwaukee. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The first 1,000 kids (14 and under) into the building will receive an IceHogs youth jersey compliments of Rockford Orthopedic.